White waterslide decals - make your own, using just an ordinary inkjet or laser printer.

Domestic ink-jet and laser printers don’t have white ink, so how do you make your own decals - with white - for use on darker backgrounds? Here’s how...

My method is simple and effective, using both white and clear decal papers, although it does require a bit of skill and a degree of patience.
Timecodes:
0:00 - The challenge
0:23 - The solution: white decal paper...
0:40 - ...PLUS clear decals
1:20 - Sealing the decals
2:04 - Applying the white decal
4:50 - LEAVE TO DRY!
4:52 - Clear decal application
6:23 - Handling with small decals
7:19 - Blended edges

[@frankward8336]

Cutting a circle by hand. Good luck with that !😊

[@paterpracticus]

It doesn't have to be perfect. It gets covered up by the transparent decal over the top.

[@martinxp2535]

Awsome!

[@paterpracticus]

Glad you think so!

[@xxwolfxxza]

Is the printer different for this? Is it possible with a normal printer?

[@paterpracticus]

No special printer required - just a completely normal inkjet or laser printer.

[@luiginica]

You may want to use some Round Shape Paper Punchers. Insert the paper and look thru the whole to align it before you punch/cut it out.

[@paterpracticus]

Good suggestion, but would need to be the exact sizes for each.

[@ZILLA....]

I have a dspiae rotary circle cutter that lets you dial in the exact circle size which would work great with this method. It's the abstract shaped decals that I'm wondering if I can tackle haha

[@luiginica]

@@ZILLA.... maybe a cricut.

[@SpaceParanoidX]

Nice idea. Could you use an all white decal as the first decal? That way there is less need to line up the second decal accurately.

[@paterpracticus]

Yes, that would work, but I think the lining up is actually made easier with the type - and you know it really is exactly the same.

[@smeg1959]

I have done this before on some 1/144 scale aircraft and AFVs and it does work but alignment is definitely the key. As for colour matching when the white isn't outlined by, say, black, again this can be done but it is extremely difficult to get the colours exactly right. It is further complicated when you think you've nailed the colour but, the moment you apply the decal, you realise the colour of the decal sheet backing paper had an influence and the tone isn't as good as you'd hoped.

[@billbowman8747]

Very interesting approach! Question…Maybe I'm missing something here, but why not just lay down a plain white circle, then place the color art done on the clear backing on top of it? This way you would avoid the finicky registration work or your design.

[@paterpracticus]

Yes, that would have been enough in my example, but I really wanted to demonstrate the technique for more complex designs too.

[@osmanpasha_diy]

Didn't see any difference after 2nd phase...

[@paterpracticus]

The second overlay sorts out the edges of the decal, from my roughly cut circle to an accurate edge. The centre part stays much the same - which is what we want.